Many professional clubs can tell you how disgusting the first round of the cup can be. Not least the Lilies after last August. The general conditions for the start of the cup are the same for almost all away teams year after year: high altitude against lower-class opponents who see the encounter as an absolute final. There's nothing to gain apart from getting ahead, but a lot to lose. The fact that this did not happen to SV 98 this year was due to early decisions and resilience. Next round – no more, but no less either. And yet progress should give you strength for the tasks ahead.
In the cup, the main goal was to advance. We've fulfilled that.
“As a higher-class club, you have to win the game – especially us after our start,” said Torsten Lieberknecht after the 3-1 away win against FC Teutonia 05 from the Ottensen district of Hamburg: “It’s good for the team to have won a competitive game .” His captain that afternoon was also “happy that we won and progressed,” said Clemens Riedel: “In the cup, the main goal was to progress. We’ve fulfilled that.”
He and his team controlled the game, especially in the first half, and created several promising chances. Two of them resulted in goals: on the one hand, in the 19th minute, Kai Klefisch fired a spectacular shot into the top corner via the underside of the bar. On the other hand, the busy, constant hustler, Luca Marseiler, could only be stopped in the penalty area by a foul. Teammate Fabian Nürnberger placed his spot kick into the bottom corner whilst the goalkeeper dived to the opposite corner.
“We could perhaps have made it 3-0 or even 4-0 earlier, but then we got into a short, small whirlwind after the break,” says Riedel, summarising the periods before and after the half-time break. “We have to act more calmly,” criticised the 21-year-old. The Teutons intercepted a misplaced pass after 49 minutes and scored the next goal after their first shot was saved. Lieberknecht: “We made a mistake in the second half to bring Teutonia back into this cup game. We lacked security there.”
Because Oscar Vilhelmsson made it 3-1 after around an hour, the home supporters also had to get used to the idea that a cup sensation would probably not happen that afternoon. And the loud Lily fans who had travelled along came to the realisation that there would finally be a successful return trip to Darmstadt. Even if the home team playing at the Millerntor didn’t give up until the final whistle. But we stuck to ourselves and carried on,” said Klefisch: “It was then important to restore the old gap with the 3:1 and thus stop Teutonia’s upswing.”
In the end, the text doesn’t have to be too pathetic at this point. The South Hessians have completed their mandatory task and completed their cup homework. An overall lacklustre but safe victory. Before future first round draws, August 14, 2023 is probably mentioned as a warning example. August 18, 2024, however, remains a footnote in Darmstadt Cup history. In the present, however, it just feels nice to have achieved success and to leave the weekend with a positive feeling. With relief that other teams have to drink from the cup of early cup elimination this weekend, but not their own. And looking forward to the coming week. The first task in the cup has been solved. Next task: collect something worthwhile next weekend.
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.